Maule M-6
Maule Air · United States · first flew 1983 · light aircraft
The Maule M-6 is a four-seat high-wing STOL utility aircraft from Maule Air of Moultrie, Georgia, offering a 210 hp Continental IO-360 engine and refined short-field performance in the established Maule family tradition.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fabric-over-steel-tube fuselage with large rear cargo door on the starboard side |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing strut-braced four-seat STOL with the characteristic Maule swept dorsal fin
- Fabric-over-steel-tube fuselage with large rear cargo door on the starboard side
- Fixed straight-leg undercarriage accepting tundra tyres or floats
Nearly identical to the M-5 and M-7 in appearance — all are high-wing four-seat fabric aircraft with the same swept vertical tail and angular fuselage. The M-6 is best distinguished by the engine installation; visually, only the cowling shape and intake details differ between M-5, M-6, and M-7 variants.
Specifications
- The Maule M-6 has a length of 7.05 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.4 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 259 km/h (161 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Maule introduced the M-6 in 1983 as a higher-powered development of the M-5, incorporating the Continental IO-360 engine for improved hot-and-high performance. The company maintained its hallmark of producing capable bush aircraft with steel tube and fabric construction at a competitive price, and the M-6 continued the tradition of factory-optional floats and tundra undercarriage.
Variants
The M-6-180 uses a 180 hp Lycoming O-360; the M-6-210 uses the Continental IO-360 of 210 hp. Ski and float configurations are factory-approved options. The M-6 fed into the later M-7 family which introduced fuel injection and further refinement.
Where you'll see it
Operated by bush pilots and utility operators across North America, particularly in Alaska and northern Canada; also popular in Australia and New Zealand for pastoral and remote-area work.
Related aircraft
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